22 Nov New county mayor seeks environment bond issue

By Hannah Morse
Courtesy of The Palm Beach Post

There’s a new mayor and vice-mayor in town.

For the next year, Dave Kerner will take over as Palm Beach County’s mayor, a ceremonial title held until recently by Mack Bernard. The county mayor presides over County Commission meetings, signs documents and represents the county at events.

Commissioner Robert Weinroth was chosen by his peers as vice-mayor.

“When you’re inline, you’re always paying attention to the person in front of you,” Kerner said, thanking his fellow former state representative Bernard for his service as mayor.

Kerner also called being a county commissioner, a seat he was elected to in 2016, “an incredible, incredible responsibility” and a “deep honor.”

But he wasted no time in his new role.

On Tuesday, the new mayor floated for consideration a multimillion-dollar bond to fund environmental and natural resources projects.

“While it’s a little out of my wheelhouse, I’m deeply passionate about it,” Kerner later told The Palm Beach Post.

Kerner’s 30 -year, $ 122 – million bond proposal is subject to change, pending a workshop, approval by commissioners and support by voters in 2020. As it currently stands, it would cost $20 a year for someone whose home is valued at $200,000.

The money would be spent on projects like land acquisition, water quality enhancement and conversion from septic to sewer.

He said the proposal was reviewed by the county’s Environmental Resources Management department and the nonprofit Sustainable Palm Beach County, which was founded by former County Commissioner Karen Marcus.

“This county’s electorate has stood up and said, ’We want what’s best for our community and we know the value of good government,”’ Kerner said of his confidence in the measure passing. “And it has to be good government, and it has to be good science behind the money we’re going to ask for.” In a reflective moment, Kerner paid homage to the leaders who preceded him during his formative years in Palm Beach County, and saw every decision the commission makes — including this proposal — will be for the benefit of future generations, including his 4-year-old niece.

“I look at Antonella and say, ’What is it that we’re going to do for the next generation?”’ Kerner said.